• WORLD

British Prime Minister Theresa May and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have congratulated Franceâ€™s president-elect Emmanuel Macron on his victory.

May said France is one of U.Kâ€™s closest allies, and looks forward to working with the new president on a wide range of shared prioritiesâ€.

Merkel speaking through her spokesperson Steffen Seibert, says his win is a victory for a united Europe and for the Franco-German friendship.

She is one of the world leaders who backed his candidacy against the far-right candidate, Marine Le Pen.

Here is a selection of comments from world leaders and other political heavyweights on Macronâ€™s election victory.

United States

â€œCongratulations to Emmanuel Macron on his big win today as the next President of France. I look very much forward to working with him!â€ President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter.

Germany

â€œCongratulations, @EmmanuelMacron. Your victory is a victory for a strong and united Europe and for French-German friendship,â€ said Chancellor Angela Merkelâ€™s spokesman.

Britain

â€œThe Prime Minister warmly congratulates President-elect Macron on his election success. France is one of our closest allies and we look forward to working with the new President on a wide range of shared priorities,â€ said a Downing Street spokesman.

European Union

â€œHappy that the French chose a European future,â€ European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker wrote on Twitter.

EU Council President Donald Tusk also offered his congratulations, saying the French had chosen â€œliberty, equality and fraternityâ€ and â€œsaid no to the tyranny of fake newsâ€.

European Parliament President Antonio Tajani told AFP: â€œWe have received a vote of confidence from France in the European Union.â€

CanadaCanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he wanted to work together with Macron on a â€œprogressive agendaâ€ to â€œpromote international security, increase collaboration in science and technology, and create good, middle-class jobs on both sides of the Atlanticâ€.

Greece

Prime Minister Alexis Tspiras said Macronâ€™s victory was â€œan inspiration for France and for Europeâ€, adding he was â€œsure we will work closely together.â€

Spain

â€œCongratulations to @EmmanuelMacron, new president of #France. Let us work in France and Spain for a stable, prosperous and more integrated Europe,â€ Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said in a tweet.

Ireland

â€œI am delighted that a leader with a positive ambition for Europe has won this election,â€ said Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny.

â€œThereâ€™s lots of work ahead for all of us in Europe, in a challenging environment, not least on Brexit.â€

Sweden

â€œThis is a victory for the French people and for European cooperation. New opportunities will now open up for the proactive agenda needed to strengthen the EU, including more jobs and fair working conditions, a stronger climate policy and a functioning asylum system in which everyone takes responsibility,â€ said Prime Minister Stefan Lofven.

Brazil

â€œI congratulate @EmmanuelMacron on his victory in the French presidential election. Brazil and France will continue to work together for democracy, human rights, development, integration and peace,â€ tweeted President Michel Temer.

Others

Defeated US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who like Macron had her campaign hacked, tweeted: â€œVictory for Macron, for France, the EU, & the world. Defeat to those interfering w/democracy. (But the media says I canâ€™t talk about that).â€

â€“ In The Netherlands, Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders commiserated with Marine Le Pen, saying in a tweet: â€œWell done anyway @MLP_officiel millions of patriots voted for you! You will win next time â€” and so will I!â€

â€“ In Austria, Heinz-Christian Strache, head of the far-right Freedom Party, said Le Pen deserves â€œrespectâ€¦ She is from now on the strongest opposition force against Macron.â€

Macron â€œstrategically positioned himself a year and a half ago as pseudo-independent,â€ Strache said on Facebook.

â€“ â€œThe French people refused the politics of hate and voted to uphold our shared values of liberte, egalite, and fraternite,â€ New York City mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted.